Parking indicator



R. M. THORSON PARKING INDICATOR Jan. 18, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1945 INVENTOR. ROY M. THORSON 3 azwm1949- R. M. THORSON PARKING INDI CATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed A 10, 1945FIG 4 FIG .6

INVENTOR. 0) M. THORSON BY Patented Jan. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a parking guide for motor vehicles; the mainobject being to provide a device for the purpose which includes a rotarydrum having guide lines representing the path the vehicle should followwhen backing into a parallel parking space, and an indicator to followsaid line; the drum and indicator being so connected to the wheels ofthe vehicle and to the steering mechanism respectively, that the driver,when running the car backward and steering the car so that the indicatorcontinually registers with the corresponding guide line, can promptlyand efliciently park his car in the desired space.

Fig. 1 is a front view of the parking guide as seen by the operator ofthe vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a partial section through the speedometer takeoff mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the steering takeoff arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the path of travel of the vehicle during theparking operation.

Fig. 6 is a view of the circumference of the drum of the parking guide,as if laid fiat.

Referring to the characters of reference on the drawings; the parkingguide unit I includes a rectangular frame 2 having a drum 3 of suitabletranslucent material therein and extending transversely of the vehicle.The drum is provided with an axial shaft 4 suitably journaled in theframe.

Marked on the surface of the drum and extending throughout itscircumference are separate and distinctive guide lines 5 and 5; forparking on the right and left hand sides of a street respectively.

Each line is of predetermined form being plotted by experiment to fitthe needs and according to the Wheel-base length and other features ofdifferent motor vehicles.

The unit I is mounted in association with the instrument panel I in suchposition as to be readily visible to the driver of the car.

Arranged to cooperate with lines 5 or B alternately is an indicatorpreferably in the form of a ringed arrow or pointer 8. This pointer isslidable along a bar 9 mounted in housing 2 in a concealed position infront of and below the drum, and so that the pointer is substantiallytangent to the drum as shown in Fig. 4.

The drum is connected to the speedometer mechanism, to be rotatedthereby when the car is in motion and said mechanism is operating, bythe following means: The rigid stub drive-shaft III of the speedometer His disconnected from its flexible shaft l2 and a short shaft I 3 isinterposed therebetween and couples the same in driving relation. Theshaft I3 is mounted in a housing I4 secured to the speedometer casingand to the casing IS in which shaft I3 is enclosed as shown in Fig. 2.

Fixed on shaft I3 is a pinion I6 arranged to mesh with a gear I! fixedon a countershaft l8 slidably mounted in housing l4 parallel to shaftl3. Shaft l8 projects thru panel 1 and has a finger knob I9 thereon. Adetent 20 is supported with a spring 20' in a socket l4. The detent 20may be forced into either of the grooves l8 and acts on shaft l8 toyieldably maintain the same in either one of tWo positions. When saidshaft is pulled back, the gear I! and pinion l 6 are in mesh, and whensaid shaft is pushed forward, the gear I1 is moved clear of the pinion I6. Shaft I8 is connected by a flexible housed shaft unit 2| ofconventional type with one end of drum shaft 4.

It will therefore be seen that the drum may be selectively placed intoor out of driving relation with the speedometer shaft by a pull or pushon shaft [8.

In addition, an electric light bulb 22 in housing 2 behind the drum, isturned on or off by the movement of shaft 18 as above described by meansof a topple switch 23 in the circuit of the bulb and. fixed on housingl4 and having its operating lever 24 projecting between a pair of discs25 on shaft I 8 and forming a shifting yoke. The switch is closed whenthe pinion l6 and gear I I are in mesh, and the current flows throughwiring 23 to the wiring 22 leading to light bulb 22.

The pointer 8 is slid back and forth by the turning of the front wheelsof the car upon manipulation of the steering mechanism 26, by means of aflexible housed wire 21 strapped at one end to the usual steering arm 28of such mechanism and at the other end to bar 9.

To place the device in operation, when it is desired to back into aparking space and the car is in position to start the parking movement,it is only necessary to pull on knob l9, preferably with a slighttwisting movement, which places gear I! into mesh with pinion I6. Thenwhen the car is started (placing the speedometer in operation) and thedrum slowly rotates, steering of the car so that the pointer followsline 5 will insure the car being properly backed into the chosen spacewithout the operator having to watch anything but the parking guide.This is because, as previously stated, the guide line 5 is laid out orplotted by previous test or experiment to give the desired car movement.The speed of rotation of drum 3 relative to car movement is such thatthe drum will make one revolution with a car movement of about one andone-third times its length, this being the average movement of a carduring a parking operation.

If necessary at the outset, the operator can rotate the drum to a properstarting position, or so that the starting point of line 5 (or line 6)is just visible atzlthe; bottom; of frame 2. "'This isjrdone by pushingin on knob l9 and then turning the same.

Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically the initial 7 position, andsubsequent path of movemenbofr a car 29 being parked; dotted line 30indicating the path of the front center of the car-whi-labeing' parked,and dash line 3% indicatingtthe path;of.

the rear center of the car.

Prior to a parking movement, car 2M5 positioned alongside car 219 (orthe space for the same) 'just ahead-of the --parkingwspace1-;P-.-.as

shown.

:The. parking guide being, set;ar1d vthengplaried in operationzaspreviously described,,1the carxZS is backed. while. atthe same timepointer. Sris made to follow line 5 by first tHIZ'H' HgTthGTGEIwheelshard to the-right from starting point; A,

as indicated at. B. on 13116530. ,The .car: will then-bemOVed straight:backfo awshortqdistance (though-,atan angle ,tocu r-b 32) as indicatedat C. iThe -wheels. are thentturned .hardnleft as at D;;-. and thenstraightened -:out, stoppin ia point E. :The'CalWViH then be: properlyparked inspace P .providing that ;:during .lthe

parking; operation, the driver; has :-:rnani oulated thereof,=adeviating line marked onthe: drum: ciroumferentially thereofzandrepresenting -.the::path of ,movementof thevehicle-when: backinghintmapar-king space, meansconnect-ing the .drum withia moving part of. thevehicle to rotatethezdnum not more than -a full revolution upon ;a;complete parking ,-movement .wOf :the vehicle, said means being adapted*for, ready siinstallation on a standardrautomobile a pointer mounted.:in connection with the drum for .movement axially thereof-.and..a-da.pted .to read .on the 1 line and means connecting. the.pointer with. the vsteering mechanism .of the vehicle landbeingi adaptedto maintain the pointerinregister with. saiddeviating line .by,manipulation of .the steering mechanism.

.'2. A;device as inclaiml, in whichsaidlast namedymeans comprises. afiexiblepushand pull wire connected to the pointer. and. to.the,steering arm of the steering mechanism; said wire ex- 4 tending axially ofthe drum for a certain distance from the pointer.

3. A device as in claim 1, in which said drum connecting means comprisesa flexible drive shaft connected at one end to one end of the drum, and

a driving connection between the other end of said shaft and the driveshaft of the speedometer of the vehicle.

LHA device as in claim 1, in which said drum connecting-.meanscomprises; a flexible drive shaft connected at one'end to'one "end ofthe drum,

. and a driving connection between the other end of said shaft and thedrive shaft of the speed- ;nmetervof the vehicle, said connectioncomprising apinion driven by the speedometer shaft, and a meshing 'gearfixed on the first named shaft.

5. -.A,;dev.ice as iii-claim 1, in which said drum connecting meanscomprises a flexible drive shaft connected at one end to one end of thedrum, and

a driving connection between the other end of said; shaftzandxthe .driveshaft of V the speedometer =ofi the vehicle ithe: fiexible' driveshaft'having a rigid-shaft .section'wmountedparallel to and'aad-:jacentxthespeedometer end of thespeedometer .drive:.shaf,t,, a: pinionaxial with and "driven-by said 'drive shaft atxsaid end-thereof and:a:gear

on the. rigid shaft section to mashawith thetpinion'.

:16. .gAudeviceras .inclaim 1;,in which saidwdr'umoonnectingmeanscomprises a flexible drive shaftconnectediatj-one:end.tooneend.of the.-drum ,;and

.a ldriving ;.connection between the-other endof .ome-terof the vehicle,the :fiexible drive *shaft having: a-:rigid= shaft section "mountedparallel to and adjacent the speedometer end :of-the-speedometer-driveshaft a pinion axial withand-driven by-saididrive shaftatsaid endthereofrandagear on the rigid shaft, section to mesh 'withlthe .pinion,and means mounting the rigid shaftsectiom for slding .movementimanuallyto place the' gear zinto and outof mesh with-the pinionat, will. i

RO-Y M.'THORS0N.'

REFERENCES CITED The following. references are of record in th file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re..18,830 Glennon May 16; 1933-.1,80.9,934 .Glennon June 16, -1931 1,905,717 Jackson -Apr. 25,19332,151,579 Bacon Mar. 2l,.1939 2,373,168

Cockerell Apr. 10, 1945

